Frequently Asked Questions

When are sex offenders required to register with local authorities? Sex offenders are required to register with local law enforcement agencies within five working days of being released from a local jail or state prison or completion of any alternate sentence. Sex offenders also must re-register every year within five working days of his or her birthday, moving, or changing his or her name. With few exceptions, the registration requirement is a lifetime mandate. During annual registration, the registered sex offender is required to verify his or her name and address or temporary location. Failure to register properly may be a felony and may count as a “Third Strike” (Penal Code section 290).

What does 290 PC mean? 290 PC refers to California Penal Code Section 290, the law that requires sex offender registration. Section 290 of the California Penal Code requires people convicted of certain sexual offenses to register with the local law enforcement agency responsible for the jurisdiction in which they reside within 5 working days of their birthday, and within 5 working days of changing their address. This is a requirement for the rest of their lives. If they fail to register on time, they are in violation of the law. If they fail to notify their local police agency when they move in or out of the city, they are in violation of the law. If they provide false or deceptive information about where they are living, they are in violation of the law. The Santa Clara County coordinates a team of officers assigned specifically to monitoring and tracking sex registrants and routinely send cases to the District Attorney’s Office for filing of 290 PC violations.

What are the different sex registration classifications?
Generally, a "high-risk" sex offender is an individual convicted of multiple violent crimes, at least one of which was a violent sex crime. The criterion for “high-risk” sex offenders is set forth in Penal Code Section 290(n) (1) (A).

This information can be released to persons at risk or to the entire community.

"Serious" sex offender has a conviction of a specified felony sex offense or misdemeanor child molestation. A complete listing of crimes subject to registration is listed in Penal Code Section 290.4 (a) (1). The information can be released to persons at risk ONLY.

"Other" sex offenders are required to register, but are not subject to disclosure under Megan's Law. These other sex offenders are individuals convicted of pornography, exhibitionism, misdemeanor sexual battery, incest or spousal rape. Additionally, sex offenders adjudicated in juvenile court are not subject to public disclosure. Information regarding “Other” sex offenders MAY NOT be disseminated to the public.